mujahideen

plural noun

mu·​ja·​hid·​een mü-ˌjä-hi-ˈdēn How to pronounce mujahideen (audio)
mu̇-,
-ˌja-
variants or mujahedin or less commonly mujahedeen
: Islamic guerrilla fighters especially in the Middle East

Examples of mujahideen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 1980s saw collaboration in arming Afghan resistance fighters (the mujahideen) during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which further strengthened the U.S.-Chinese security relationship. William Hurst, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2025 The former Soviet Union fought a 9-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989 following their defeat by the Afghan mujahideen, some of whom later founded the modern Taliban. Max Saltman, CNN Money, 3 July 2025 More significant were secret aid to the mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan and Carter’s decision to accelerate the Pentagon’s development of stealth technology. Jonathan Alter, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024 Made in 2007, the film foreshadows the eventual blowback of the U.S. support of the mujahideen. Keith Staskiewicz, EW.com, 26 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for mujahideen

Word History

Etymology

Arabic mujāhidīn, plural of mujāhid, literally, person who wages jihad

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mujahideen was in 1887

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mujahideen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mujahideen. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

mujahideen

plural noun
mu·​ja·​hid·​een
variants or mujahedin
mü-ˌja-hid-ˈēn How to pronounce mujahideen (audio)
mu̇-,
-ˌjä-
: Islamic guerrilla fighters especially in the Middle East
Etymology

Arabic mujāhidīn "Islamic guerrilla fighters," plural form of mujahīd "a person who wages Islamic holy war"

More from Merriam-Webster on mujahideen

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